BMW X3 Stalling: Could Your Idle Control Valve Be Dead?

I had nearly identical issues with my 2019 BMW X4 last winter. Started with rough idle, then progressed to stalling and check engine light. Turned out the intake manifold was heavily contaminated with carbon deposits, which was affecting airflow and causing those exact symptoms. The mechanic showed me the buildup, it was pretty serious. They had to do a complete intake cleaning service and replace a few gaskets that had deteriorated. The job took about a day and a half to complete. They also found that the idle control valve had been struggling to compensate for the restricted airflow, but it wasn't actually faulty. If you're getting similar symptoms, I'd recommend having the intake system checked first before replacing parts. Carbon buildup is pretty common on direct injection engines, and it can cause all sorts of running issues if left unchecked. The cleaning made a massive difference, car runs like new now.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Did you happen to remember roughly how much you paid for the intake cleaning service and gasket replacement? Also curious if you've had any issues pop up since the repair was done?

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. After getting my X4 fixed, everything has been running perfectly smooth, not a single problem since then. The total bill came to 425 € for the intake cleaning service, including sorting out that bad idle air control valve. When they opened it up, they found the intake was way more gunked up than they initially thought, but the thorough cleaning job they did really made all the difference. I've put about 15,000 km on it since the repair, and honestly, it feels like driving a different car. The idle is rock steady now, no more of that annoying stuttering or stalling. Best money I've spent on maintenance so far. My advice would be to get it checked out sooner rather than later, these issues tend to get worse (and more expensive) if you wait too long. If you want my two cents, having a proper cleaning done before things get too bad is definitely worth it. My engine's running smoother than it has in ages.

Just wanted to update everyone, took my X3 to a mechanic yesterday based on the advice here. You were spot on! Turned out my intake system was completely clogged with carbon deposits. The mechanic did a thorough cleaning service, replaced a couple of worn gaskets, and gave everything a good check-over. The whole thing cost me around 450 €, which honestly wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Got the car back today and what a difference! The engine runs smooth as silk now, no more stalling, and that annoying check engine light is finally off. Plus, the mechanic was super helpful, showed me all the gunked-up parts and explained everything they were doing. Way better experience than my last mechanic. Thanks again for the suggestions. Really saved me from unnecessarily replacing parts that weren't actually broken. Think I've found my new go-to mechanic too!

Hello. Today this morning my check engine light appeared in my dashboard. I own a 2019 BMW X3, 2.0 gasoline, B48. I checked it on the tester and the error is 130716 - VANOS exhaust solenoid valve. The car is behaving normally, but I don't want to end up with much worse problems. What can you advise me to do? Thanks in advance

(Translated from Romanian)

Start by checking the VANOS solenoid valve for any signs of dirt or oil contamination, as these can affect its performance. Sometimes, simply cleaning the solenoid can resolve the issue. If cleaning doesn't help, the solenoid might need to be replaced. Since this component is crucial for engine timing, it's important to address it promptly to avoid potential engine performance issues. Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions!